raym
18-05-2007, 02:46 AM
Hi, as a mech engineer, I think i may know something about energy and cooling.
I have a single door upright fridge. It has a freezer box at the top, with about 1 inch space all around the box, and a plastic insulated door.
My wife is of the firm belief that as soon as half an inch of ice forms on the exterior of the freezer box coils, that I should do a manual defrost. This means unloading the contents of the ice box and defrosting with a pan of hot water.
But my logic is that the ice forming around the box acts as an insulator, for the cold in the box - and means the compressor will not need to work as much to maintain the freezing temp.
Without the insulating layer, cold will be lost at a greater rate to the "warm" fridge environment. I say the inch gap is designed to freeze solid for this reason. The ice adds a cold store also.
Anyone support my idea over my nagging wifes urban myth?:)
Ray
I have a single door upright fridge. It has a freezer box at the top, with about 1 inch space all around the box, and a plastic insulated door.
My wife is of the firm belief that as soon as half an inch of ice forms on the exterior of the freezer box coils, that I should do a manual defrost. This means unloading the contents of the ice box and defrosting with a pan of hot water.
But my logic is that the ice forming around the box acts as an insulator, for the cold in the box - and means the compressor will not need to work as much to maintain the freezing temp.
Without the insulating layer, cold will be lost at a greater rate to the "warm" fridge environment. I say the inch gap is designed to freeze solid for this reason. The ice adds a cold store also.
Anyone support my idea over my nagging wifes urban myth?:)
Ray